Collapsible last



July 1, 1952 A. w. MQNEILL 2,601,687

COLLAPSIBLE LAST Filed April 28, 1950 Q5 v I Ira/enter Patented July 1, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,601,687 GOLLAPSIBLE LAST Alexander W. McNcill, Lynn, Mass.

Application April 28, 1950, Serial No. 158,863

19 Claims. 1

This invention comprises anew and improved last constructed and arranged to collapse freely, completely and quickly, and on that .account being particularly useful inthe manufacture of sli lasted shoes, and at the same time having novel connecting mechanism thatis effective to hold therlast in solid locked condition with an exceptional degree of firmness and security. ()nthis account the last of my invention is also well adapted- :and usefulin the manufacture of welt and cemented shoes where the last must be subjected to severepressure in thesole laying operation orin other steps of the manufacturing process.

For many years shoemakers .have sought for a last. construction that would permit a quick and substantial collapse andshortening of the last in order that it may be withdrawn easily from the upper without undue strain, and which also will insure the lengthening of the last after it has been fully introduced into the upper. These characteristics are particularly important in th manufacture of slip lasted shoes having uppers of delicate material.

Another essential requirement is that the operations of locking and unlocking of the last must be effected practically instantaneously. For example, the time required to manipulate a threaded connection makes all such mechanism entirely unsuitable for modern shoemaking re quirements. In accordance with the present invention these operations require no more time than *is needed to break or strai-ghten a toggle joint.

Still another requirement is that the last when in locked or expanded condition must have sufficient strength to withstand very heavy pressure withoutdanger of breakage. It is important that thehinge pins should be so located that they will. not split the wood of the last or pull out in resisting sole laying pressure or the like.

I have discovered a novel last construction which fulfills all. the conditions above discussed and hasadditional advantages which will hereinafter be pointed out. Among these is economy of manufacture by last making equipment already available in the plants of last makers.

The novel connecting mechanism of my invention includes a tension link arranged to join the two parts :of the last near the last bottom in combination with two intersecting connecting systemsconnecting each end of the tension link with'the cpposite part of the last. At least one of i-these connecting systems constitutes a toggle. The tension linkafiords apositive connection. and

its anchor pins serve as fulcrums to resist the force of the toggle linkage. Thus the bottom edges of the interfitting parts of the last are forced and held by toggle action in intimate contact under very substantial pressure. At the same time when the toggle system is broken, the connection maintained by the tension link is loosened and the last parts are freely and easily movable into their collapsed condition. While the two complete connecting systems are desirable, in many instances a single linkage is adequate and is within the scope of my invention. In a preferred construction the tension link may be of double construction, that is, it may comprise two similar members and these may be spaced to receive one of the links of the toggle system. For example, a toggle plate may be arranged as a spacer between the two members of the tension link and pivoted on the rear anchor pin of the tension link in the heel part of the last. The other linkof the toggle system may be pivotally mounted on the toggle plate and may have its anchor pin located in the forepart of the last. Preferably and as herein shown, this toggle link will be provided with an operating arm which may be readily engaged by the shoemaker or by mechanical means in a conveyor system and manipulated either to break the toggle for collapsing the last or straighten the toggle for holding the last in its extended position.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the last with portions broken away to expose the connecting mechanism,

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the lastin collapsed condition,

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view disclosing modifled connecting mechanism,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line5-5of Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary view of a modified linkage.

The last as herein illustrated comprises a, heel part I0 and an interfitting forepart l2. The meeting faces of these parts are complementary to each other except that they diverge toward the cone of the last to provide an open space into which an operating portion of the connecting mechanism projects so that it may be manipulated in collapsing and straightening the last. The heel part II] is provided with a slot II which registers with a corresponding slot I 3 in the forepart and in these slots the connecting mechanism is housed.

The connecting mechanism comprises a pair of elongated tension links M and I5 herein shown as curved and slotted but not necessarily so. These are identical in shape and provided with anchor pins I6 and I1. These links are disposed in the lower portion of the last and adjacent to the last bottom. The links themselves are the subject-matter of my prior Patent No. 2,188,414, dated January 30, 1940, although their employment in the combination which will now be described is a part of the present invention.

The tension links I4 and I5 are separated by an intermediate spacer comprising a toggle plate l8 which is pivotally connected to the anchor pin [6 at the rear end of the tension links. It is formed at its forward end with a hook I9 so shaped as to engage with the anchor pin I! in the forepart of the last when the last is straightened as shown in Fig. l. The toggle plate I8 is also provided with a slot to receive an anchor pin 20 which is located in the heel part of the last diagonally above the anchor pin I6. This pin and slot connection permits the toggle plate I 8 to rock in the heel part of the last when the last is being collapsed or straightened. In the collapsing operation the pin 20 will move from one end ofthe slot to the other and then back again to its original position in which it is shown in Fig. 2. The toggle plate I8 constitutes one element of a toggle system. The other element is provided by a pair of L-shaped toggle links 2I which are pivoted on a transverse anchor pin 22 at their forward ends in the forepart of the last, and are connected at the knuckle joint of the toggle to the toggle plate I8 by a yieldable pin 23. As herein shown, this pin is a split cylinder and is designed to yieldslightly as th toggle system is forced through its dead center position. The L-shaped links "2| are each provided with a curved stopsurface at its heel. These are so shaped and located as to bring up upon the upper edges of the tension links I4 when the toggle is straightened. It will be understood that the links 2I are separated by the toggle plate I8 and each link lies in the plane with one of the tension links. The upwardly extending arms of the toggle links 2I extend into the open space between the parts of the last and are perforated so that they may be engaged by a hook and forcibly moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 2 when it is desired to collapse the last, and moved in the reverse direction when it is desired to straighten the last.

It will be seen from the foregoing discussion that the connecting mechanism comprises the tension links which lie near the last bottom and two intersecting connecting systems connecting the respective parts of the last and having one link which is common to both systems. One of these connecting systems is a toggle comprising the toggle plate I8 and the portion of the links 2| between the knuckle pin 23 and the anchor pin 22 in the forepart of the last. The other system is formed by the hooked toggle plate l8 itself which acts to tie together the two parts of the last by its connections with the anchor pins I1 and 20, this line of action intersecting the line of action between the anchor pins I6 and 22.

In moving the toggle system I8-2I from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. l, the knuckle pin 23 passes slightly beyond the dead center position, that is, it passes through the line connecting the anchor pins I6 and 22 so that the toggle is broken very slightly and can be released only forcibly by carrying the knuckle pin again through the dead center position. The knuckle pin 23 is made yieldable to permit this action. The toggle is prevented from moving any substantial distance beyond its dead center position by engagement of the curved contact faces of the links 2| with the upper edge of the tension links I4. In its straightened position, therefore, the two parts of the last are tied together by the tension links I4, by the hooked connection supplied by the toggle plate between the anchor pins I1 and 20, and by the toggle link connection supplied by the toggle plate I8 and the toggle links 2I between the anchor pins I6 and 22. The result achieved by this connecting mechanism is exceptional solidity and security of the last parts in extended or straightened position, and free, complete, and practically instantaneous collapse of the last by manipulation of the toggle links 2 I.

A modified connecting mechanism is shown in Fig. 4 in which the hooked connection supplied by the toggle plate I8 in Figs. 1 and 2 is eliminated, and in which the action of the tension links I4 and the toggle system l8--2I' correspond to that already described. As shown in Fig. 4, the toggle plate I8 is modified as compared with the toggle plate I8 by change in its contour which eliminated the hook l9. The shape of the toggle links 2I' is modified in providing additional clearance in the forward edge of their upstanding arms and in the provision of a two part button 24 instead of the perforations shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The toggle links 2 I may be manipulated by engaging the button 24 either by hand or by hooks or clamping member 25 which may be part of a conveyor system.

In Fig. 6 a further modification of the connecting mechanism is shown in which the anchor pin 28 is employed and passes through an elongated slot in the toggle plate I8 as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2. These features are not used in the construction of Fig. 4. The linkages of Fig. 6 are similar to those of Fig. 4 except that Fig. 6 includes a four-pin system whereas Fig. 4 comprises a three-pin system.

Having thus disclosed my invention and described in detail illustrative embodiments thereof, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A collapsible last comprising interfitting heel and foreparts having registering slots, and connecting means located in said slots and including a flexible link having an anchor pin in each of said parts, toggle links also connecting said parts, and anchor pins therefor, one of said pins passing through one end of said flexible link and the second pin being spaced a substantial distance from the other end of the said flexible link.

2. A collapsible last comprising interfitting heel and ioreparts, a flexible link, anchor pins at the ends of said link in both parts of the last, toggle links connected at one end to the anchor pin passing through the rear end of the flexible link in the heel part, a separate anchor pin for the other end of the toggle links in the forepart of the last, a second anchor pin in the heel part, and one of said toggle links extending from said second anchor pin to the pin at the forward end 5. the flexible link when-the lastisstraightened.

3. A collapsible last comprising interfltting heel and foreparts, a tensionlink connecting-the two parts near the last bottom, and two intersecting systems connecting each endof the tension link with the opposite part of the last when the last is straightened.

4. A collapsible last comprising interfitting heel and foreparts, a tension link having anchor pins at its ends in the respective last parts, intersecting connecting systems, one extending upwardly and rearwardly from the forward end of the tension link when the last is straightened and the other extending upwardly and forwardly from the rear end of the tension link, and anchor pins for each toggle system.

5. A collapsible last comprising interfitting heel and foreparts, a double tension link, anchor pinsat the ends of the link in the respective last parts, a spacer plate located between the two members of the tension link and pivoted on the rear anchor pin of the link, a double toggle link pivotally connected to the spacer plate, and an anchor pin therefor located in the forepart of the last.

6. A collapsible last having interfitting heel and foreparts, a tension link connecting said parts near the last bottom, anchor pins for the link in the respective last parts, a toggle plate pivoted upon the rear anchor pin of the tension link, an angular toggle link pivoted on the toggle plate and having an upstanding operating arm whereby the toggle may be broken or straightened, and an anchor pin in the forepart of the last for the said angular toggle link.

7. A collapsible last having complementary heel and foreparts, a slotted tension link connecting the last parts near the last bottom, anchor pins for the link in the respective last parts, a pair of toggle links pivoted at one end upon the rear anchor pin of the tension link, and an anchor pin in the forepart for the other end of the said toggle links, the said toggle links being shaped to rest upon the tension link when in substantially straight condition.

8. A collapsible last comprising interfitting heel and foreparts, a tension link connecting the two parts near the last bottom, and two connecting systems connecting the respective parts when the last is straightened. and havin one member which is common to both systems.

9. A collapsible last comprising interfitting heel and ioreparts, a curved and slotted tension link connecting the two parts in the lower portion of the last, a toggle plate curved at its lower edge in conformity to one edge contour of the tension link, and a toggle link pivoted to the toggle plate and having a contact surface shaped to engage the other edge of the said link when the toggle as a whole is moved to its substantially straightened condition.

10. A collapsible last of the character defined in claim 9 in which the toggle plate has a hook, and an anchor pin is provided in the forepart of the last in position to be engaged thereby when the toggle is straightened.

11. A collapsible last comprising interfitting .heel and foreparts having registering slots, and

connecting means located in said slots and including a tension link having an anchor pin in each part of the last, toggle links also connecting said parts and anchor pins therefor, one of said toggle link anchor pins being the anchor pin at one end of the tension link and the second toggle link anchor pin being spaced a substantial there being a yielding resilient connection in the connecting means permitting the togglelinks to pass the deadcenter position in straightening the last.

12. In a hinge last construction, a last having separated toe and heel sections with abutting inter-faces a first link, a pivot between each section and an end of the link whereby the link joins the two sections, a toggle linkage having two toggle links pivoted together at their inner ends, one end of the toggle linkage being pivoted to one lastsection concentrically with its pivot to the first link, the other end of the toggle linkage being pivoted to the other last section at a point spaced from the pivot of the first link in such section, means in the last to give access to the toggle linkage to open the same.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein the last sections have complementary lengthwise grooves and the first link and toggle linkage are mounted in said. grooves.

14. The combination of claim 13, wherein the toggle linkage has a projection thereon engageable for opening the toggle joint.

15. The combination of claim 12, wherein the pivot common to the first link and toggle linkage is in the heel section of the last and the pivot of the toggle linkage in the toe section is above the first link pivot in the toe section.

16. A collapsible shoe last, comprising a forepart and a heel part; a spacer link having one end thereof pivotally connected to the forepart and the other end pivotally connected to the heel part; and a toggle linkage including two toggle links pivotally fastened together adjacent their inner ends, the outer end of one of the toggle links being connected to the heel part concentrically with the connection of the end of the spacer link thereto, and at no other point, the connection being a pivotal one providing for relative pivotal movement between said link and the heel part, the outer end of the other toggle link being pivotally connected to the forepart at a point spaced from the connection of the spacer link thereto.

17. A hinge locking device for lasts of the type having separate foreparts and heel parts; the locking device comprising a spacer link having pivot receiving openings at its ends for pivoting it to the two last parts; a toggle linkage having two toggle links pivoted together at their inner ends; the outer end of one toggle link having means for pivotally connecting it to one of the ends of the spacer link, whereby to be pivoted also to the corresponding last part, the outer end of the other toggle link having a pivotreceiving opening for pivotally connecting it to the other last section at a point separate from the spacer link pivot thereon; stop means to limit the toggle action of the toggle linkage to slightly over center; and means on the toggle linkage engageable to break the toggle joint thereof.

18. A hinge locking device for lasts of the type having separate foreparts and heel parts; the locking device comprising a spacer link having pivot receiving openings at its ends for pivoting it to the two last parts; a toggle linkage having two toggle links pivoted together at their inner ends, one toggle link containing means adjacent only the outer end thereof for connecting it to the heel part, said means providing for a pivotal connection concentric with the connection of the spacer link to the heel part, the outer end of the other toggle link having a pivot-receiving opening for pivotally connectin it to the other last section at a point separate from the spacer link pivot thereon; stop means to limit the toggle action of the toggle linkage to'slightly over center; and means on the toggle linkage engageable to break the toggle joint thereof.

19. A collapsible last having interfitting heel and foreparts; a spacer link connecting said parts near the last bottom by means including anchor 10 pins; a first toggle link pivoted upon the rear anchor pin of the spacer link; an angular toggle link pivoted on the first toggle link and having an upstanding operating arm whereby the toggle can be broken or straightened; and an anchor pin in the forepart for connecting the angular toggle link thereto.

ALEXANDER W. McNEILL.

No references cited. 

